Electricity, Blackouts and Deregulation

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Utility bills are soaring in San Diego and Southern Orange County--partly because of inaccurate estimates of how much power would be needed to fuel a booming economy based on high-tech, high-energy-using technology. But most of the blame goes to the deregulation of California's big power monopolies and the market system that is replacing them. The former Mayor of San Diego says deregulation is "turning into a nightmare" for consumers whose bills have doubled. The leader of the State Senate says, "Today it's San Diego, tomorrow Los Angeles." We'll ask how come? What's next? How soon?
Reporter's Notebook: The Nation's Victor Navasky and David Brooks of the Weekly Standard with two views of Dick Cheney as the GOP vice presidential nominee.

Credits

Host:

Warren Olney

Producer:

Frances Anderton